High-throughput automated microfluidic sample preparation for accurate microbial genomics

Nat Commun. 2017 Jan 27:8:13919. doi: 10.1038/ncomms13919.

Abstract

Low-cost shotgun DNA sequencing is transforming the microbial sciences. Sequencing instruments are so effective that sample preparation is now the key limiting factor. Here, we introduce a microfluidic sample preparation platform that integrates the key steps in cells to sequence library sample preparation for up to 96 samples and reduces DNA input requirements 100-fold while maintaining or improving data quality. The general-purpose microarchitecture we demonstrate supports workflows with arbitrary numbers of reaction and clean-up or capture steps. By reducing the sample quantity requirements, we enabled low-input (∼10,000 cells) whole-genome shotgun (WGS) sequencing of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and soil micro-colonies with superior results. We also leveraged the enhanced throughput to sequence ∼400 clinical Pseudomonas aeruginosa libraries and demonstrate excellent single-nucleotide polymorphism detection performance that explained phenotypically observed antibiotic resistance. Fully-integrated lab-on-chip sample preparation overcomes technical barriers to enable broader deployment of genomics across many basic research and translational applications.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Infections / diagnosis
  • Bacterial Infections / microbiology
  • Drug Resistance, Microbial / genetics
  • Environmental Monitoring / instrumentation
  • Environmental Monitoring / methods
  • Gene Library
  • Genome, Bacterial / genetics*
  • Genomics / instrumentation
  • Genomics / methods*
  • High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing
  • High-Throughput Screening Assays / instrumentation
  • High-Throughput Screening Assays / methods*
  • Humans
  • Lab-On-A-Chip Devices
  • Microfluidics / instrumentation
  • Microfluidics / methods*
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / genetics
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / isolation & purification
  • Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / genetics
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa / genetics
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa / isolation & purification
  • Soil Microbiology
  • Whole Genome Sequencing / instrumentation
  • Whole Genome Sequencing / methods*